Sign changing apparatus



Nov. 17, 1936. H. c. HEATH v 2,061,030

SIGN CHANGING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 20, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet l REF IGEELTR f INVENTOR. HARRY C. HEATH BY ATTORNEYS.

Nov. 17, 1936. H. c. HEATH 2,061,030

S IGN CHANGING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 20, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG.4, 3

2 INVENTOR.

HARRY C. HEATH Z a r ATTORNEYS.

Patented Nov. 17, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,061,030 SIGNCHANGING APPARATUS Harry G. Heath, Oakland, Calif. Application August20, 1934, Serial No. 740,599 10 Claims. (Cl. 40-36) This inventionrelates to automatic sign-chang supported in a suitable frame-work iswhich is ing apparatus as used in stores, waiting rooms, mounted on thebase! and carries all of the oper etc., as well as in outdooradvertising, and the obative mechanism. jects of the invention are toprovide a simple Frame I 8 rises almost to the top of the cabinetmechanism which will change the signs one after and carries another pairof sprockets l9 at its 5 another, work silently, effectively, and notget upper end to take the endless chains 4 driven by out of order. Otheradvantages of the invention the lower sprockets ll, but there is nothroughwill appear in the following description and acshaft on the uppersprockets as they are rotatably companying drawings. carried on suitablestub shafts, bolts or spindles 10 In the drawings Fig. 1 is aperspective View 2| projecting inwardly from the frame, as the 10 of theapparatus with the outer casing omitted space between the sprockets mustbe kept clear and portions of the construction broken away to for thepassage of the signs. better reveal the mechanism. The sign plates 2 asof Fig. 4 are preferably of Fig. 2 is a vertical side view of themechanism rectangular sheets of metal with a horizontal rod with theforward side of the cabinet and frame- 3 along the upper edge projectinga short dis- 15 work omitted, also with portions shown in section, tanceat each side, are hung vertically in pack and part of the driving gearsdotted to show their formation by means of their projecting rodsenrelativeposition. gaging over the upper edges of side plates 22 at F 3i an n a ed fragmen ary cross section opposite sides of the frame is andwhich upper of Fig. 2 as seen from the line 3-3 thereof. edges 22 formrails which are slanted downwardi 4 is a front V e in u ed ca e OW I 1ytoward the viewing opening 6 so that as the one of the sign bodies orplates used in the apparaforward sign is removed the remaining signswill tus. slide down by gravity and forward so that the 5 is an e lar eddeta w n e next will be in place to be engaged by the chains ner inwhich the chain engages a sign to remove and removed.

25 it from viewing position. To thus successively engage the signs,devices B y rib d the inv n i n mpri 5 take the form of blocks of abouta quarter of met arranged to pp a p a y 0 p an inch in thickness fixedto the chains in con- Of vertieally arranged- Sign p t s 2 ach Sfronting relation at an aligned point and prop d t t upp nd by a rod 3 pj ti at vided with inwardly opening notches 23 into 30 pp pp Corners ofthe Sign and a P Of which the ends of the rods 3 are adapted to fallendless chains or belts 4 traveling vertically at as, the chain slowlyascends. This action is best pp ends f t cabinet and pr vi d w hindicated in Fig. 5 wherein the leading end of the devices 5 to p p theforward Sign, lift t p block 5 is shown as well tapered off as at 5 sothe Viewing Opening 5 0f h Cabinet, Carry it as to always get in frontof the first pair of sign over the other signs and deposit it in therear of pins 3, The chains may move outward to blocks them, so that thenext one is successively exposed 5 over pin 3 and are resiliently forcedback by through the Viewing p spring leaves 24 to which blocks of goodpiano I a aware that apparatus heretofore usedgrade of felt 25 areattached and the tension of Operated broadly in the ebovemanner, but thewhich blocks against the chains may be deter- 40 constructional pointsinvolved and which make mined by adjusting Screws 26. The rear Sides ofthe present apparatus successful are believed to the forward Strands ofchain are preferably be guided by blocks of piano felt 21 carried onmuch The cabinet I may be of any material and is st1ffer leaf springs28. This arrangement kills preferably mounted on a base 1 in which adriving an noise in Operation. 45

motor 8 is housed and which is preferably a worm v Above plates 22 andaligned therewith are two gear reductlon motor as mdlcated Suspendedsimilar plates 29 which are shaped along their on springs 9 fromsupports l0, and has its slow s eed shaft ll connectedb means of andesired outer edges to follow the path of travel the p y y notches 23 inblocks 5 so that as a sign is picked style of flexible coupling l2 to anextension drive shaft I3 extending to the side of the cabinet and Ofithe from of the Pack the Pins 3 W111 be fitted with a pinion l4 engaginga large gear l5 tained in the notches of the blocks until they ride on asprocket shaft l6 extending across the botdownward on the rear run ofthe chains and meet tom of the cabinet and carrying at both outer anopen slot 30 left between the upper and lower e dsa chain sp e aft b i grotatably plates and into which the pins 3 fall by gravity due to theweight of the sign, and urge all of the suspended signs forward on therails 22'.

To prevent displacement of the pins 3 during the transfer of the signsmall angle iron guides are arranged along the outer sides of both runsof chain as at 3| and 32, and to guard against the sign in transit (2')being lowered upon the upper edges of the pack of signs, small guards 33are secured to plat-es 29 and leaf springs 34 and secured to the forwardmargins of the frame in a manner to bear on the two vertical margins ofthe sign plates and resiliently force them rearward. Also small rollersare provided at 35 to hold the sign plates forward until they are raisedhigh enough to clear the guards 33 under the action of the springs.

In order to permit removal or changing of the sign plates the back ofthe cabinet may be left open or provided with a door 36 hinged as at 31,and the signs may be conveniently lifted in single file up the rear lineof the chains and over the upper ends of angle irons 32, it being merelynecessary to see that the blocks or lugs 5 are not disposed along therear run.

While I show but one set of carrying lugs for transferring the signs, itis evident that any desired number may be used, and that the time ofexposure of the signs to the viewing aperture 6 will be correspondinglyshortened. However, with one set of lugs any desired duration ofexposure may be had by proper selection of motor speeds and gear ratios.

In Fig. 2 the drive pinion and gear l4 and l! are partially drawn toshow their position relative to adjacent parts.

Attention is directed to the fact that in suspending the pack of signplates in the manner indicated, the suspension rods being encircled bythe sheet metal make a combined thickness which creates a space 38between each sign so that they do not contact, and hence are not draggedacross one another in transferring them, but may be run indefinitelywithout injury, and hence may consist of matter 39 printed or painteddirectly on the sheet metal or cardboard plates, or paper prints pastedon. If of cardboard the sign plates may have the upper rods or pins 3secured in place in any convenient manner. While the thickness createdat the upper ends of the signs will cause them to hang with the space 38between adjacent signs, I also score the opposite lateral margins ofeach sign thereby producing vertical parallel rearwardly projecting ribs40 on each sign, which ribs slidably engage the thickness at the topedge of the adjacent sign at two spaced points when the front or exposedsign is drawn upward by the chain, thereby reducing the friction of thesliding sign to the minimum and protecting the printed surface of thesign against defacement. These same ribs are formed on metal holders forcardboard signs, the ribs normally bearing against the forward face ofthe lateral folded card-retaining margins of the metal holder of theadjacent sign.

Also, while I show a pair of chains to carry the signs over to the rearof the pack, it is evident that perforated belts would operate the sameand are therefore to be included in my use of the word chains in theappended claims.

Having thus described my improved construction in an automaticsign-changing apparatus, what I claim is:

1. In a sign-changing apparatus, a plurality of sign plates eachprovided with projecting pins at its upper corners, rails upon which thesigns are suspended vertically one behind the other, said signs formedto touch at their upper edges only and hang clear of one another, andmeans for picking the signs one at a time from one side of the pack byengagement with said pins lifting the signs, and depositing samesuccessively at the other side of the pack, said means including a pairof endless traveling chains provided with devices for engaging the pins,rollers against which the margins of the sign roll, and a spring actingon the sign successively to force them toward the opposite side of thepack when past the rollers.

2. In a sign-changing apparatus, a pair of confronting slanted tracks, aplurality of sign plates with laterally projecting pins at their uppercorners suspended by the pins resting on the tracks and all tending tomove toward the lower ends of the tracks, a pair of vertically disposedendless chains respectively at opposite ends of the suspended pack ofsign plates, lugs on the chains arranged and adapted to engage the pinsof the lowermost sign and carry it up and over the pack for deposit onthe tracks at the rear thereof, and means resiliently urging the chainstoward said lowermost sign for engaging said pins.

3. In a sign-changing apparatus, a pair of confronting slanted tracks, aplurality of sign plates with laterally projecting pins at their uppercorners suspended by the pins resting on the tracks and all tending tomove toward the lower ends of the tracks, a pair of vertically disposedendless chains respectively at opposite ends of the suspended pack ofsign plates, lugs on the chains arranged and adapted to engage the pinsof the lowermost sign and carry it up and over the pack for deposit onthe tracks at the rear thereof, and means including blocks of feltresiliently urging the chains toward said lowermost sign for engagingsaid pins.

4. In a construction as specified in claim 3, resilient devices bearingupon the opposite sides of the chains in opposed relation to said means.

5. In a sign-changing apparatus of the character described, a frame, apack of sign plates provided each with projecting pins at its uppermargin suspended on said frame one in back of the other, a pair ofvertically disposed endless chains at opposite ends respectively of thepack of sign plates, sprockets over which said chains run, means foractuating the sprockets to drive the chains, a pair of lugs on saidchains provided with notches to receive the pins of the signs and carrythe signs one at a time from the face of the pack to the back of thepack, and means for resiliently urging the chains in direction to insureengagement of the notches with said pins.

6. In a sign-changing apparatus of the character described, a frame, apack of sign plates provided each with projecting pins at its uppermargin suspended on said frame one in back of the other, a pair ofvertically disposed endless chains at opposite ends respectively of thepack of sign plates, sprockets over which said chains run, means foractuating the sprockets todrive the chains, a pair of lugs on saidchains provided with notches to receive the pins of the signs and carrythe signs one at a time from the face of the pack to the back of thepack, means for resiliently urging the chains in direction to insureengagement of the notches with said pins, and guides following the pathof travel of the chains holding the pins within said notches until inplace at the back of the pack.

7. In a sign-changing apparatus, a generally horizontally extending rowof substantially rectangular vertically disposed sign plates each formedadjacent the opposite corners of a horizontal edge with an increasedthickness and each plate being provided with a generally verticallyextending rib at each lateral margin arranged and adapted to slidablyengage the thickened portion at the opposite corners of the adjacentplate upon the end plate, the row being moved vertically to expose aside of the adjacent plate, and means for successively moving the endplate of the row vertically to expose a side of the adjacent plate.

8. In a sign changing apparatus a plurality of sign plates havinglateral projections at their upper corners, means for supporting saidplates from said projections in a generally horizontally extending row,means for successively engaging the projections of each plate forsuccessively lifting the plates from one end of the row and for carryingthe lifted plates over the top of the row to a position at the oppositeend of said row, means above said row of plates arranged and adapted toyieldably engage each plate upon its being lifted from the row and tourge the lower end of said plate toward said opposite end of the rowindependently of normal movement of the upper end of the plate duringmovement of the plate across the row.

9. In a construction as defined in claim 8, guide means adjacent saidopposite end of the row positioned to engage each of said successivelylifted plates during the movement of each plate across the row forguiding each of said plates to a position at said opposite end of therow.

10. In a sign changing apparatus a plurality of sign plates havinglateral projections at their upper ends formed for swingingly supportingsaid plates from said projections, means for supporting said plates fromsaid projections, means for successively engaging the projections ofeach plate formed to swingingly suspend said plates from saidprojections and for successively lifting the plates from one end of therow and for carry- -ing the lifted plates over the top of the row to aposition at the opposite end of said row, means above the row of platesarranged and adapted to cause each of the lifted plates to swing on saidprojections from said projection engaging means in the direction of saidopposite end of the row for positioning the lower edge of eachsuccessively lifted plate adjacent said opposite end of the row inadvance of said plate being carried by said projection engaging means.to said opposite end of the row.

HARRY C. HEATH.

